Polish police confirmed early Monday that the 24-year-old man suspected of killing six people in a popular market square in Krakow has died in hospital. Authorities identified the suspect as Michal O, who was wounded in a shootout with officers and remained in critical condition following surgery for a gunshot wound. Malopolska Policja stated on X that the "perpetrator of the tragic events" passed away early that morning. The incident occurred Saturday afternoon when the man drove into the city’s main square at top speed, wearing military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest. He opened fire at random from his vehicle, creating what police described as a "wild ride" through the tourist-heavy area.
The attack and casualties
The gunman fired at people from his car shortly before 15:00 local time, shattering windows on a passing tram without injuring passengers. Armed officers engaged him within three minutes, preventing a further massacre, though one officer sustained serious injuries during the arrest. Six victims died in the square: four Polish citizens, a British national, and an Austrian woman. Police later found three more bodies at the suspect’s home in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, identified as his 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother, and 21-year-old sister.
Seventeen others were injured in the attack, including five foreign nationals from Austria, Germany, Portugal, and Russia, plus two police officers. One officer, Senior Constable Jakub Kulik, was shot three times while arresting the attacker and underwent surgery for chest wounds. Interior ministry spokeswoman Karolina Galecka noted that many emblems on the suspect’s clothing are being analyzed by specialists for extremist motifs. Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared the event a terrorist offense, noting Poland had not previously faced such drastic cases of terrorism. Two days of national mourning began immediately after the tragedy.
Motive and response
Interior minister Marcin Kierwinski said the suspect was fascinated with far-right ideologies and held "very radical" and "ultra-nationalistic" views. Local media reported he possessed a firearms permit and may have obtained weapons from his family home, where counter-terrorism police searched for explosives but found none. The attack deepened concern about extremism in Poland following several school stabbings in October linked to online content.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire echoed across the medieval square. Jonathan Balshaw, a British visitor, hid with others until the shooting stopped, reporting more than 20 shots from multiple firearms. Surgeons Dr Mateusz Wierdak and Prof Michal Pedziwiatr rushed to help after lunch, treating conscious victims with abdominal and chest wounds. They stated they did everything a paramedic would do at such an incident.
City officials urged residents and tourists to stay away from the area while investigations continue. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed shock and solidarity, while US ambassador Tom Rose called it a "savage and murderous attack." EU diplomat Kaja Kallas described it as a tragedy felt beyond Poland. President Volodymyr Zelensky extended condolences to the families of victims. The rare mass shooting highlights growing fears about radicalization in the region.
Police spokesperson Katarzyna Cislo confirmed that two women released from hospital earlier, with remaining patients in stable condition. The investigation continues under the national prosecutor’s office, focusing on the terrorist nature of the act. No other suspects have been named or arrested in connection with the killings. The city remains under heightened security as officials process evidence from the scene.
